The SdKfz 173 Jagdpanther (German: "hunting panther") was a German tank destroyer used during World War II. It was based on the Panther tank.[1]
It was an excellent tank, combining the long barreled 88 mm gun of the Tiger II and was quite faster than the Tiger I. Yet, like all late German tanks, it suffered from extensive breakdowns due to lack of spare parts and recovery vehicles. Still, it saw service on the Eastern and Western Fronts until 1945.[1]
Description[]
Based on the chassis of the Panther tank, the SdKfz 173 had a PaK 43 for its main gun, supplemented by a pair of rifle caliber machine guns. The Jagdpanther had a 700 hp (522 kW0) Maybach HL 230 petrol engine, capable of propelling it at speeds of up to 28.6 mph (46 km/h) and distances of up to 99.4 miles (160 km), and required crew of five men to function.[2]
History[]
Production of the Jagdpanther began in January 1944 and continued until Germany surrendered, by which time 392 examples had been built, with the first examples entering service in June 1944.[3] The Jagdpanther was mostly used on the Eastern Front, where its main gun proved effective against even the most powerful Soviet tanks, including the IS-2. They were also used in the Ardennes Offensive.[4]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jagdpanther
- ↑ http://wwiivehicles.com/germany/tank-hunters/jagdpanther.asp
- ↑ Forty, George. WW1 and WW2 Tanks. Southwater Books (Anness Publishing Ltd). 2012. ISBN 1 78019 190 1 Page 103
- ↑ http://wwiivehicles.com/germany/tank-hunters/jagdpanther.asp
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